OFFICIAL
Transport for NSW
Overseas
Licence Policy
Change
Communication Toolkit for Stakeholders – Version 2
December 2023
transport.nsw.gov.au
OFFICIAL
Key messages
• Two core changes that impact overseas drivers were introduced to the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2017 on 1 July
2023.
• The first change is a six-month residency rule whereby temporary visa holders who intend to reside continuously within NSW for six
months or longer will need to convert to a NSW licence within six months if they wish to continue to drive.
• The second change is a withdrawal of driving privileges. The regulation now allows for overseas drivers to be stripped of their driving
privileges permanently if they accrue 13 demerit points or are convicted of certain speeding, drug and alcohol or serious driving
offences. If these overseas licence holders wish to drive again in NSW, they will be required to obtain a NSW driver licence once they
have completed their suspension or disqualification period (whatever is applicable). They will not be permitted to drive again in NSW
using their overseas licence.
• We all have a role to play when it comes to road safety. This policy change provides an important opportunity for overseas licence
holders to learn more about the NSW road transport system.
• Tragically, since the beginning of 2023, there have been five fatal crashes involving a driver or rider with an overseas licence.
• By completing theory and driving tests, overseas drivers can gain the important skills and knowledge they need to be safe on NSW
roads and help to reduce the rate of road trauma.
2
Overseas Licence Policy Change
OFFICIAL
Key messages
• Thank you to the 20,000+ temporary visa holders who have converted their overseas driver licence to a NSW driver licence since 1 July
2023.
• Have you arrived on a temporary visa from 1 July 2023 and yet to convert your driver licence? Don’t delay – head to a Service NSW
Service Centre to convert your licence today.
• If you do not convert your overseas licence within 6 months and you continue to drive in NSW, then you will be deemed unlicenced by
the NSW Police.
• Make sure you leave enough time to obtain your overseas licence. Depending on the country you received your driver licence, you may
need to pass the Driver Knowledge Test, Hazard Perception Test and The Driving Test to obtain a NSW driver licence.
• Driving whilst unlicensed will incur a significant fine and may impact insurance coverage on your vehicle or motorbike, especially in an
accident.
• The NSW Police can impound vehicles and confiscate number plates from drivers who continue to drive unlicensed or disqualified.
3
Overseas Licence Policy Change
OFFICIAL
Key messages
• To support the increased demand for testing for licence conversion, a new Service NSW Driver Testing Centre (with only Driver
Testing services available) is now open at the Macquarie Fields Tafe building.
• The Service NSW Macquarie Fields Driver Testing Centre opened for bookings on December 8 and will offer around 300 driving tests
a week, especially to help overseas licence holders convert to a NSW driver’s licence.
• Visit the Service NSW website here to find out more about the Service NSW Driver Testing Centre at Macquarie Fields.
• Overseas licence holders can obtain a NSW driver’s licence at a Service NSW Service Centre. More information on how to obtain a
NSW driver’s licence is available at nsw.gov.au.
4
Overseas Licence Policy Change
OFFICIAL
News/newsletter content
5
Share this suggested content via your own news stream/newsletter
On 1 July 2023, the NSW Government introduced two key policy changes for overseas licence holders. The first change was the requirement for all temporary visa
holders to convert to a NSW driver licence if they intend to reside in NSW for six months or longer. The second change allows for overseas drivers to be stripped
of their driving privileges permanently if they accrue 13 demerit points or are convicted of certain speeding, drug and alcohol or serious driving offences.
We all have a role to play when it comes to road safety. This policy change provides an important opportunity for overseas licence holders to learn more about the
NSW road transport system. Tragically, since the beginning of 2023, there have been five fatal crashes involving a driver or rider with an overseas licence.
By completing theory and driving tests, overseas drivers can gain the important skills and knowledge they need to be safe on NSW roads and help to reduce the
rate of road trauma. Since 1 July 2023, 20,000+ temporary visa holders have converted their overseas driver licence to a NSW driver licence.
If you do not convert your overseas licence within 6 months and you continue to drive in NSW, then you will be deemed unlicenced by the NSW Police. Driving
whilst unlicensed will incur a significant fine and may impact insurance coverage on your vehicle or motorbike, especially in an accident.
Make sure you leave enough time to obtain your overseas licence. Depending on the country you received your driver licence, you may need to pass the Driver
Knowledge Test, Hazard Perception Test and The Driving Test to obtain a NSW driver licence.
To support the increased demand for testing for licence conversion, a new Service NSW Driver Testing Centre (with only Driver Testing services available) is now
open at the Macquarie Fields Tafe building.
The Service NSW Macquarie Fields Driver Testing Centre opened for bookings on December 8, 2023 and will offer around 300 driving tests a week, especially to
help overseas licence holders convert to a NSW driver’s licence.
Overseas licence holders can obtain a NSW licence at a Service NSW Service Centre. More information on how to obtain a NSW driver’s licence is available at
nsw.gov.au.
OFFICIAL
Customer facing communications resources
8
DL flyer – English (CAL reference: 124583)
Front of flyer Back of flyer
Instructions to order a digital copy of the flyer: Refer to instructions on page 20 to download from the Transport for NSW Creative Asset Library using
the CAL reference in the sub-heading
OFFICIAL
Customer facing communications resources
9
DL flyer – Traditional Chinese (CAL reference: 124420)
Front of flyer Back of flyer
Instructions to order a digital copy of the flyer: Refer to instructions on page 20 to download from the Transport for NSW Creative Asset Library using
the CAL reference in the sub-heading
OFFICIAL
Customer facing communications resources
10
DL flyer – Simplified Chinese (CAL reference: 124422)
Front of flyer Back of flyer
Instructions to order a digital copy of the flyer: Refer to instructions on page 20 to download from the Transport for NSW Creative Asset Library using
the CAL reference in the sub-heading
OFFICIAL
Customer facing communications resources
11
DL flyer – Thai (CAL reference: 124421)
Front of flyer
Back of flyer
Instructions to order a digital copy of the flyer: Refer to instructions on page 20 to download from the Transport for NSW Creative Asset Library using
the CAL reference in the sub-heading
OFFICIAL
Customer facing communications resources
12
DL flyer – Vietnamese (CAL reference: 124419)
Front of flyer Back of flyer
Instructions to order a digital copy of the flyer: Refer to instructions on page 20 to download from the Transport for NSW Creative Asset Library using
the CAL reference in the sub-heading
OFFICIAL
Customer facing communications resources
13
A4 poster – English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
English (CAL ref: 124584)
Simplified Chinese (CAL ref: 124417)
Traditional Chinese (CAL ref: 124418)
Instructions to order a digital copy of the flyer: Refer to instructions on page 20 to download from the Transport for NSW Creative Asset Library using
the CAL reference in the sub-heading
OFFICIAL
Customer facing communications resources
14
A4 poster – Thai and Vietnamese
Thai (CAL ref: 124397) Vietnamese (CAL ref: 124396)
Instructions to order a digital copy of the poster: Refer to instructions on page 20 to download from the Transport for NSW Creative Asset Library.
OFFICIAL
Overseas driver photos
18
Below is a sample of the images available for use. Search for these images plus
other overseas driver images in the CAL using search term: OLPC
OFFICIAL
Web content
19
These nsw.gov.au links contain information relevant to OLPC.
• Driving with an overseas licence in NSW from 1 July 2023 – FAQs
• Applying for a temporary overseas visitor licence
• Driving with an overseas or interstate licence in NSW
• Moving your licence to NSW
• Moving your overseas licence to NSW
• Renewing, replacing or surrendering a temporary visitor licence
• Visit a service centre
• Visiting NSW with an overseas learner or provisional licence
OFFICIAL
Accessing the Transport for NSW Creative Assets Library
20
- If you already have an account for the Transport for NSW Creative Assets Library (CAL), log in at
https://creativeassets.transport.nsw.gov.au and search for a specific CAL reference.
- To create a new account, follow the steps below:
- Go to https://creativeassets.transport.nsw.gov.au
- Click ‘Register’ on the top right-hand side of the page
- Complete the form
- Click the box to confirm you agree to the terms and conditions
- Submit your registration to the administrator for approval
- You will receive email confirmation when your account is ready to access (generally within 24-28 hours)
- If you have any issues with the CAL, please contact creativeasset[email protected] and provide
any screenshots of the issue.
OFFICIAL
If you have any questions about this
toolkit or require more information, please
email Jess Drewery, Senior Engagement
and Education Officer at
[email protected].gov.au.
21
